Travels from 2013 to 2016

Time flies so fast and I never realized that I haven't posted any travel blog post here.
Much of my posts are now on facebook. But blogging is my first love and it has been a stress reliever when I was still in Law School and facebook was still a foreign concept.

For the last 3 years I've been in several places so I will just briefly mention them here with some tips and details.

Year 2013
Places Visited:
Subic, Olongapo City, Zambales
Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

2014
Puerto Princesa and El Nido, Palawan
Boracay
Rizal
Laguna
Lasam and Aparri, Cagayan Valley
Cauayan City, Isabela Province
Infanta, Quezon Province
Cagayan De Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Mindanao

2015
Puerto Princesa and El Nido, Palawan
Batangas City, Batangas
Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija

2016
Singapore
Boracay
Laoag, Ilocos Norte

I realized I've been through a lot within the last 3 years. So here are my top 5 destinations

5. Vigan


Where I stayed: None. We were bound to Laoag for a conference so we decided to drop by Vigan and have some breakfast after 10 hours of land travel. After the conference, the group decided to drop by Vigan for last minute shopping. Most from the group went back to Manila from Vigan, some of us decided to stay and go back to Laoag for more tours.

Where I dined:

We dined at the Cordillera Inn for Filipino breakfast. Location: Along Calle Crisologo. It opens at 6 am.

What I bought: Some Ilocos Vinegar
What I liked: Old houses
What I didn't like: Too many people. There are lots of people visiting when we went there because of the conference.


4 Boracay

Where I stayed: Isla Gecko at Station 2
Where I dined: Isla Gecko at Station 2
What I bought: Food mostly
What I liked: Isla Gecko is near the beach, not beachfront though. It is a decent accommodation. We were able to eat at the common dining area. We bought food from eateries in the residential area to save on cost. I initially thought they allow cooking, turns out what I read in other reviews are wrong. No cooking in this accommodation. I love that I was able to bring my granny to Boracay.

What I didn't like: Boracay is costly. Lots of fees to pay at the terminal before we can reach Boracay. I have my 83 year old granny with me. No senior discounts, no student discounts. Our fees paid to the terminal at Caticlan is higher than our total fare and more than the daily accommodation rate.

Tips:
Book at least a year in advance. I was able to bring 8 people in Boracay when I got a promo fare to Kalibo for only P2,800. Fare to Caticlan from Kalibo is only 100 pesos. Don't believe those who offer 250 or 200.

On my first visit in 2012, I paid 200 per person for aircon van. During my second visit in 2014, I paid 250 pesos to a person who said it will cover the boat and other fees; of course he tricked me, I got to shell out 400 pesos for the entire trip.

Now, 2016, on my third visit, I brought the group to the terminal going to Caticlan, I paid only 100 pesos per person for non-aircon van. When we went back, the van offered 150 per person, i agreed. When we reached Kalibo airport, we saw other passengers paying only 100 pesos. So we were again tricked into agreeing for a higher amount.

So be firm. Pay only 100. Trip is only 2 hours away. It is near, shouldn't be worth more than 200.
Also, Caticlan airport is going to open soon. So those drivers should lower their costs. Best for us visitors to go to the now bigger Caticlan airport.

3 Laoag, Ilocos Norte

Laoag Airport

Where I stayed: Isabel Suites



Isabel Suites where walk ins stay


Isabel Suites across the other Isabel Suites where those who booked online stay.

Where I dined: La Preciosa. I visited more than thrice during my entire stay.


A dining table at La Preciosa. Delicious Ilocos food served at your table.


La Preciosa Menu


Explored the market and found this work of art. Made of mangosteen skin and corn husks. I asked the maker what this is for, she said they are selling this for funerals. Funeral wake is from 9 days to a month here so the funeral "flowers" should be able to last longer.


Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, now easily accessible from the main road than when I first visited in 2011.

What I liked: The food. The people. The Beach. The sites.
What I didn't like:  I was not able to stay on the Blue lagoon beach for lack of time.

Tips:
There are 2 sand dunes in Laoag - Paoay San Dunes and La Paz Sand Dunes. Bring sunblock and dark glasses. It hurts the eyes looking at the horizon. The sunlight is reflected by the sand.

If you have a van, tour Pagudpud, Laoag, and Vigan. Pagudpud can be explored in half a day, spend the afternoon til the evening on the beach in Blue Lagoon. Hannah's is expanding in Pagudpud but there are still afforable beach front accommodations in the area. Stay for a few days. This is much more quiet than Boracay.

If you want to go on a trike tour, contact Mang Amor at 09195712905. He is trustworthy.

Bugnay wine is the best tasting wine in the north. Ours in the Southern Tagalog (Lambanog) is bitter. Theirs in the north is sweet. Ask Mang Amor to buy you some when you visit. Cost is much less than buying it in Vigan.


2 Palawan, Puerto Princesa

1. Palawan, El Nido

Matinloc, El Nido



El Nido

Where I stayed:
In El Nido, I stayed at Smile Lodge. 09984952384 | 09063771599
In Puerto Princesa, I usually stay at EJ Pension House 09175532900 (I go here almost yearly)

Both accommodations allow cooking. To save on cost in El Nido, buy your food in Puerto Princesa and cook it in El Nido. Don't worry about your food in the tours, food is included and the islander chef are great at pleasing the palate.

For El Nido tour, I recommend Islanen Tours (https://www.facebook.com/IslanenOutdoors). Their group is ever mindful of safety and enjoyment of their customers.

Where I dined: Kinabuch  In Puerto Princesa, Chao Long restaurants at the back of the Capitol,

What I liked: Palawan has become familiar to me. I made friends and toured El Nido twice. I now look forward to going to Coron.

What I didn't like: As with all other places, there are times when you will meet people who are dishonest.

Ilocos Trip Day 2 part 2

We had lunch at the eatery near Pagudpud Town Hall.

After lunch, the adventure continues with Kabigan Falls. I like this falls so much. This is the first time I've seen one (yes there are lots of Falls in Quezon Province too but I don't go around town that much whenever I make a visit). And it's majestically b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l. A refreshing tower rushing down to irrigate the rice farms downstream.

To get there one must register with the tour guides in the area. No one is allowed to go up the falls without a tour guide. Registration fee is 10 pesos per person. After that is the trek along the rice farms and woodland. The trek will take about 15 minutes. Wear rubber slippers, you will pass by small streams of water, wet rocks, and a bamboo bridge before getting there.

After the trek back and after taking a mini-rest. We went to Patapat Viaduct.

Our driver for Trike 003 Pagudpud, Kuya Angel. Emo mode at the highway.

On Patapat Viaduct

Trike 003 is one hot trike.

After Patapat, we went to these places (some of them escape my mind now. I'm already tired at this time). It is advisable to take one tour a day. Take the North tour separate from the South tour so you can have more time to enjoy the place. For us we went, took pictures, then go. It would have been better if we brought picnic stuffs and perhaps did zen meditation at the falls. Anyway, IF we or I will be able to go back to this wonderful place, I will take a longer vacay and enjoy the place some more.

We went to Timmangtang Rock and had our pictures taken.

Then off we go to Bantay-Abot Cave. An open-through mountain.

Bantay Abot Cave

I like how my hair goes with the wind.

Very near the cave is Blue Lagoon where Agua Seda is Located. We had some time at the beach first before heading back to Agua Seda to freshen up.

The beach that morning. Too bad we were not able to take a good dip.

And there, just before I took a shower, I had an accident. Poked my eye and suffered from corneal abrasion the entire night towards the next day.

Vacay ruined? I don't think so. I close my eyes most of the time that evening but that made me listen to the sea more. It was as if meditation was forced on me. Glad there was some background music to cheer me up. Thanks Jules.

For more information on Corneal abrasion, read on: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/corneal_abrasion/article_em.htm

Up next: Day 3, Blessed in Laoag.

Ilocos Trip Day 2 part 1

Okay so it took me a while before I share what happened to us in Day 2.

Before I proceed to Day 2, I just would like to share the view from Agua Seda towards the evening. I was able to get up by 5-6pm then dozed off again til the next day.

The sun is setting in the west as the east slowly gets dark

and then, the moon rose gracefully from the east.

'

Sunrise in Pagudpud

After a good rest at Agua Seda, we had breakfast at Mekeni's Palutuan. I was expecting Palutuans to offer seafood. But since the palutuan says "Mekeni's", it is not surprising to see tocino and longganisa on the menu.

Kuya Angel of Trike 003 Pagudpud fetched us from Agua Seda at exactly 0730H (7.30am). We stayed sometime at the Pagudpud town hall. We started for the windmills and the rest of the tour until 4.30pm. Here are what happened to us in that fab trike tour.

We started the morning with a South trike tour. Our first stop: Bangui Windmills

These graceful windmills move like ballerinas playing with the wind. I can't stop being poetic on this post. They are just so graceful, and beautiful. They stand on the beach to overlooking the West Philippine Sea. We imagined a red Ducati touring this place with the Kamen Rider black theme song in the background. That must be so wicked.

Next we went to the Bangui windmill viewing deck which offers panoramic view of the Bangui country side and the windmill. Awesome view up there.

We next proceeded to the Kapurpurawan rock formation. To get there we passed by a rough road with estimated travel time of 5-8minutes via trike. It was quite an experience that reminds me of the rough roads of home (Infanta, Quezon). After the trike ride, we had to descend towards the Kapurpurawan rock formation. There are lots of sharp rocks on the shore on the wayy to the big white rock so it is advisable to wear tough slippers. Mine's a bit worn out so there I took great care walking on those rocks - i even tried tiptoeing.

At the white rock, I can't help but say "Where are the Jedi?" It reminds me of the desert home of Anakin Skywalker. We had a great time taking photos.

After Kapurpurawan, we took off towards Cape Bojeador light house. Visitors are allowed only up to the tower entrance but not at the Light house tower.

After visiting the tower, we went to the "shell". The landmark that welcomes visitors to Pagudpud.

We were hungry by then and it is around 12 noon already so we decided to have lunch first before going for the next part of the tour which is the North trike tour.

Coming up next: Ilocos Trip Day 2 part 2

Ilocos Trip Day 1

Yey, just got back from Ilocos and I had a a great time spending time away from home, from facebook-emails-client calls, from my desk...

Everything was super nice.

Highlights:

Day 00-01

We left via the pink Florida Bus in Earnshaw Sampaloc Terminal at 7.30pm. Fare is 550 from Manila to Vigan. We took the Laoag bound bus which took us to Bantay, Vigan. We reached a sleeping Vigan City at past 3am. We took a trike and asked to be brought to a 24 hour resto. We're starving but there are no open restos at that time. Trike charged us P100 for the trouble of bringing us from Bantay to the whole of Vigan City looking for a place to eat. We decided to drop off at an open eatery/beer garden/videoke beside Partas.

From there we decided to just walk towards Calle Crisologo. Good thing though Calle Crisologo is well lighted even in the evenings. So we had Calle Crisologo for ourselves.

We were too early. Everyone's sleeping.

We were able to have a mini breakfast at Talaki's Food Corner Co. It's supposed to be a 24-hour eatery but it started cooking by 5.30am. Barbecue is 15pesos each. Since we're starving, we had barbecue and rice. Then started touring Vigan in daylight.

(UPDATE: We were informed just recently that Talaki's Food Corner in Burgos St where we dined opens from 5am to 9pm. They are the earliest food corner to open in that area so if you are around Vigan early, check them out. Or check their 24 hours fine dining resto at Governor A. Reyes St. Cabasaan Vigan City. )

We visited Vigan Church and noted that McDonald's beside Vigan Church has a "belfry", similar to Vigan Church.

See what I mean?

After the tour, by 7am, we checked out the Cordillera Hotel in Calle Crisologo and had Bagnet and Dinengdeng.

The coffee brought me back to my senses. Now we are ready to proceed to Pagudpud via Laoag. But before that we checked Bantay Church (my favorite church in Vigan). We took the trike from Vigan's Heritage Village to Bantay Church, cost 15 pesos per person. A far cry from the 100 pesos charged to us earlier.

We climbed the belfry and enjoyed the sights.

And then off to Laoag we went to catch another bus going to Pagudpud.

Vigan to Laoag via the open air bus = 2 hours travel time. Fare is 70 pesos.

Laoag to Pagudpud = 3 hours travel time

From Pagudpud town hall, we took the trike going to Blue Lagoon where we intended to stay, initially with, Hannah's. But our trike driver with whom I've been contacting regarding our Pagudpud trike tour, Kuya Arnel Aguila (Contact number: 09265880666) recommended that we check Agua Seda (Contact Owner: Lety Garvida 09202431832). Agua Seda is right beside Hannah's and charges 1,800 per night per room. We were the only guests in the resort that time since we went there on a weekday and there was a typhoon in Visayas-Mindanao. Kuya Rogel (pronounced "ro-hel" also known as Jun) is the caretaker of the resort and was in charge of our meals. There is free wifi access in Agua Seda, just ask Kuya Rogel for the access pin.

Our room inside Agua Seda was clean and comfy. We dozed off from 4pm to the next day (that's how tired we were after a 12-hour travel) and prepared for the next day's tour.

(Confession: ON the trike going to Agua Seda from Pagudpud town proper, when I saw the sand on the beach, I asked myself if I was seeing a real beach and not some painting. I was awed, amazed, excited. But I never expressed it that much then. AMAZING! )

(up next, Ilocos trip day 2)